Chapter 1

~o~

I swung the machete, barely registering as the vamps head hit the floor. I ran over to where Dean was kneeling over Sammy. "Dean! He ok?" I helped Dean lift Sammy, he was unconscious and the claw marks in his chest looked deep. "Cas!" Dean yelled at me, "Call Cas and get him here!" I pulled out my cell as we maneuvered Sammy into the backseat of the car. "Cas, its Annie, Sammy's hurt…" Cas appeared and reached past Dean, placing his hands on Sammy. I held my breath until I heard Sammy coughing and saw his eyes open. I breathed a sigh of relief and slumped against the Impala.

"Are you alright?" I looked at Cas and nodded. "Ya, just got a little too close for comfort in there is all. Thanks again Cassie." Dean shot me a dirty look, and I huffed a laugh before walking around to the trunk to help load up our gear. I crawled into the backseat and honestly couldn't wait to get back to our crappy motel room.

I managed to somehow crawl from the car to my room, and staggered into the bathroom, cranking on the hot water. I stood under the water until the dirt and blood had all washed down the drain, then made my way to bed and restless sleep.

~o~

I made my way through another diner breakfast and listened to the guys banter about which waitress was prettier, but overall having Sammy in one piece made it worth it. Sammy was on his laptop, checking out the next nest we were hitting. We had gotten a lead that several vamps had made their home across Michigan, along all the towns that were adjacent to the Grand River. It seemed they had taken to dumping bodies in said river, and fishermen were pulling up a bit more than they had bargained for when they cast their lines.

"Man I hope Grand Rapids is the last stop on the fang bang train." I said between bites of my chewy pancakes. Dean nodded and stretched. "You and me both kiddo, I am ready for something different. But it's still weird right Sammy?" he said turning towards his brother. Sammy nodded. "This many nests right on the river is a bit ridiculous, they usually try and be discreet, not have a family reunion. Something just isn't adding up here."

I took a sip of my coffee. "Sammy, just for kicks, have we had any other activity of the biting kind anywhere else?" Dean ran his hand through his hair and Sammy quickly went back to his laptop. Then looked back up at me. "Nothing, and I guess that makes this whole thing something more." Dean pulled out his phone. "I'm gonna check with the other hunters and see if this is an across the board thing." I nodded and grabbed my phone. "I'll check also, I'll be in my room if you guys hear anything.

~o~

A few hours later I had come up with nothing, except what we already knew, every vamp in the free world had taken up residence by the Grand River. I sat down at my laptop to do some research, maybe a spell or someone more powerful was at play here. I had just gotten comfortable when my phone buzzed.

/blocked number/ drop the research and get on with killing already.

I stared at my phone, and got a weird feeling in my stomach. I was torn between texting back, ignoring it, or just telling the guys. I went with the ignoring it. I set down my phone and went back to my laptop. It buzzed again.

/blocked number/ I hand you a nicely wrapped gift horse and hear you are checking its teeth. You and your friends need to get on with the dismemberment already.

Ok fucking freaky. I looked around my room, because obviously I was being watched. I ran out of my room and pounded on the guys' door. Dean barely opened it when I burst in and started babbling about being watched and practically threw my phone at Sammy. Dean grabbed me by my shoulders and told me to just take a breath already, while I saw Sammy and Cas looking at my phone.

I managed a deep breath and looked at them. "Well? What do you think? Weird right?" Sammy and Cas looked at each other, then back at me. Cas took the phone from Sammy and held it out to me. "I am afraid there is no new text messages on here Annie. Perhaps you were mistaken?" I snatched the phone away from Cas and looked at it. And nothing. "But there were! I swear as soon as I sat down at my laptop it went off, then again a few minutes later. Whoever it was said that they had practically gift wrapped these vamps for us…" I stopped talking because they were all looking at me weird. Sammy got his 'okay crazy person alert' face on and put his hand on my shoulder. "Look, Annie, we believe that maybe you think someone texted you…"

I shrugged his hand off. "I'm not crazy, can't you hack into the network or something and see if I was texted?" Castiel spoke. "Annie, I would have sensed if someone was manipulating your phone. But if you would feel better about Sam checking it out…" I shook my head. "No, I think… I'm going to go back to my room and get some rest before we leave tomorrow." They all nodded in agreement, and I slunk back to my room.

I had barely closed the door when my phone buzzed again. I swallowed the rising panic, and tried to breathe as I looked at the screen.

/blocked number/ bad girl, trying to share my secrets with others.

Who is this?

/blocked number/ a friend. And if you want my help, you'll stop sharing my information with your 'friends'. If you agree to tell no one about us, I'll help you in any way I can. Deal?

Fine. But can't you tell me your name? What do I call you? And why just help me?

/blocked number/ names are overrated. Text me when you require assistance. And sweet dreams Annie.

I didn't text back, just climbed onto my bed and closed my eyes. I fell asleep and it was blissfully dreamless.